Friday, January 29, 2010

Ballroom and swing with 24-piece orchestra Gateway City Big Band at the Casa Loma Ballroom (3354 Iowa at Cherokee). Doors open at 7:30 PM with a free dance lesson from 7:45 PM—8:30 PM. Admission: $10. For the complete calendar of events call 664-8000 or go online to ww.casalomaballroom.com.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Description

Based out of Milwaukee, Union Pulse has grown from a young indie band into an energetic, charismatic ensemble blurring the lines between folk, grunge, and Americana. Honest songwriting and raw, unstructured guitar work make Union Pulse a timeless brand of American rock and roll.

Friday, January 22, 2010

We've been hard at work whipping our new space into shape and now we want everyone to come see it!

Are you a self-described 'techie' that is looking for your niche? Arch Reactor, St. Louis's first Hackerspace is a co-op workshop and club for techies, tinkers and free thinkers. Part arts and technology clubhouse, part training ground for new skills and knowledge, Arch Reactor is a place for residents of St. Louis and surrounding areas to share and receive educational information and training on various topics and skills with access to the tools you otherwise couldn't afford on your own. We offer a work space for all kinds of artistic and technologic pursuits.

Saturday, January 30, from 4:00-10:00 p.m. the group is hosting an public open house in their new space for anyone interested in learning more about the group. The space is on the second floor of 904 Cherokee St. (near the Arsenal St. exit off of Hwy 55). There will be several presentations on different topics by group members and the group will be showcasing several projects and activities, such as a MakerBot, a life-sized version of the game Jenga, a Japanese Arcade Game tournament and other fun interactive exhibits.

This event is free to all. Drinks and refreshments will be offered for a donation.

Monday, January 18, 2010

St. Louis Magazine's Art Blog, Look/Listen, provides an excellent and thorough write-up of some recent changes on Cherokee, including All Along Press relocating to the old Typo and Tin Ceiling space, STL Style opening its new joint at the former All Along Press space, and the christening of Cherokee Street west of Minnesota as WEMO (who knew?)

The Burning Chair Reading Series is blowing in from Arkansas and magnetizing 8 poets from all over to one spot -- 2122 Cherokee Street -- on Saturday the 23rd of January 2010! Readings begin at 8! Lots of amazing small press books will be for sale!

Learn "The Trick" to Improv. This highly recommended class is a comfortable and supporting environment, suitable for people who have never been onstage before. Beginning Students find this work easier than they thought and advanced students find The Improv Trick approach fresh and inspirational. Students of this class appear in an improv showcase and can perform twice weekly at Improv Trick shows. This class is taught by Bill Chott and George Malich.

Chott is the star of Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place, The Ringer and Saturday Night Live. He's performed and taught internationally for The Second City, Improv Olympic, Upright Citizen's Brigade. He also teaches workshops for Special Olympics Global Messengers.

George Malich is an award-winning St. Louis Actor, star of the film A. Anonymous and one of the leading improv teachers in St. Louis, having trained with Keith Johnstone.

If you enjoy this free class, you can register at a discount for a 4-week introductory course — The Lifetime Class — that you can take again and again. This Lifetime Class is only $150 and you can register at the free class at a $25 discount.

Monday, January 11, 2010

"Over Head" is the first exhibition in Beverlyear, a year-long series of women artists at Fort Gondo. It will feature animation and sound work by Nicole Stevens. The opening reception will be held Friday, January 15, from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Featuring cutup footage from the New York Stock Exchange archive, different groups take turns continuously acting out the narrative of ringing the bell in the opening/ closing ceremonies.

Dealing with the intimate and dually abstract experience of understanding the economy, the sound pieces feature daily recordings of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and NASDAQ phrasing.

The show continues through January 30th by appointment.
Please send an e-mail to stevenic (at) webster (dot) edu for more info.

Kansas City Art Institute graduate Susan Sullivan is aptly described as a "painter's painter.” Her work is a celebration of the very medium itself. For her latest oil on board work, the artist abandons the paintbrush in favor of the palette knife. Sullivan creates a contrast between delicate figures and chunky palette knife strokes.

The open spaces of her landscapes depict the artist's experience of a particular place and time with purposeful, selective marks. Sullivan's painted language is graceful and spare. Artist Leslie Holt notes that “a delicate, idiosyncratic line carved into a layer of paint can describe a carefully observed contour of where the land meets the sky.”

In another series inspired by old family photo albums she works with brush and palette knife, sometimes scratching through the paint down to the board. Figures and backgrounds shift selectively in and out of focus, achieving a haunting effect.

Sullivan's paintings engage the viewer with their combination of vigorous physicality and delicate touch. Her seemingly effortless gestures tap into universal themes of places, people and memory. In her latest figurative works, the artist has abandoned the traditional brush and canvas entirely in favor of the palette knife. Sullivan enjoys the contrast of her delicate figures with the rough wood boards and tough palette knife strokes.

Also on view, are the works of three painters: E. Gibbons, Mark Sheppard, and Mark Weber, and the vintage collage works of David Wallace. All four artists will be showcased in gallery three.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Saturday, January 16, see Dana Anderson make music, starting at 9:00 p.m.:

Formerly of The Flatwheel Band, Dana plays primarily roots music. Folk, blues, americana, alt.country, originals, covers, etc. It all boils down to heartfelt delivery. Dana is a human jukebox from a honky tonk that is too cool to exist anymore. See him excel at what he does best on a Saturday night in January in the heart of the midwest.

Beth Bombara's music has traversed the waters of folk to indie rock, successfully gaining a diverse fan base and avid admirers. She has toured nationally as a member of Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers, and appeared in Guitar Player magazine. Beth is a newcomer to St. Louis, claiming Grand Rapids, MI as her hometown. She has now set up shop in our neighborhood and is a welcome addition to the St. Louis music scene.

Please join us at Foam as Beth introduces us to her friend Zach Vinson from Grand rapids, MI.

The very next night, Saturday, January 23, catch a live show by US English starting around 8:00 p.m.:

Good things are worth the wait. US English (formerly known as The Mirror Stage) have been hibernating with their synthesizers and old Post-Dispatch newspaper clips in order to create a distinctive step into unfamiliar terrain.

Join us for a free show at Foam on January 23 at 8:00 p.m. as we preview new material and a new sound in an intimate environment!

Thursday, January 28, see performances by Union Pulse and the Blackberries beginning at 8:00 p.m.:

Based out of Milwaukee, Union Pulse has grown from a young indie band into an energetic, charismatic ensemble blurring the lines between folk, grunge, and Americana. Honest songwriting and raw, unstructured guitar work make Union Pulse a timeless brand of American rock and roll.

January 30 Foam will host the release party for Freezerburn, "a comical 'rant-zine' done by Mister Ben S. ... filled with wacky 'toons, angst, indignation, writing, pictures, pop cultural ephemera and occasionally an attempt at a meaningful 'statement'". Check it out at 8:00 p.m.

Not really arts-related, but since I'm already on Foam, Foam will kick off its beverage education series, "Drinkers and Thinkers" on Tuesday, January 12 at 7:00 p.m. $12 entry fee, reservations required. And Foam will host Lefty Trivia Night on February 5.